IHRA Nitro Jam at Tucson

Words by Larry Crum
Photos courtesy IHRA

Last year was a bit of an oddball season for IHRA rookie and current IHRA Fuel Altered Champ Kyle Hough.

Hough had a great 2012 season by going to seven final rounds and winning the 2012 Nitro Jam Fuel Altered championship all in his first season behind the wheel. But, despite his championship-producing season, Hough didn’t get the coveted Iron Man trophy in any of those final round appearances. But he got off that seven final round appearance without a win ‘schneid’ with a win at his first IHRA event of the 2013 season

That all changed Saturday night, March 23 when Hough put it all on the line and let the numbers do the talking as the Las Vegas, Nevada driver blasted to his first career Nitro Jam win behind the wheel of the famed Nanook fuel alt at the Arizona Nitro Jam at Southwestern International Raceway.

Hough was joined in the winners circle by defending NHRA Heritage series AA/FC champ Nitro Jason Rupert who won his first IHRA Prostalgia Funny Car title, and sportsman winners Vern Bolton (Top Dragster), Howard Gerstel (Top), John Nacis (Mod), Grant Jones (Junior(dragster) Master) and Samantha Barajas (Junior(dragster) Beginner).

California racer Jason Rupert driving his shiny new Bays & Rupert Camaro Funny Car was the class of the four-car AA/FC field.  Rupert made a single in the first round when opponent and fellow California racer Mike Halstead driving for Tucson-based team owner Jim Broome’s Candies and Hughes Cuda broke and shut off the car.